Well, I'm off to battle....sort of. In a little over an hour, I'm off to Camp Joy-El to begin training as a Senior Counselor, where I'll serve all Summer. I am very excited! I can not wait to serve my King!
Can you pray for me this summer? Pray that I will be able to set a good example, speak boldly the message God has given me, that I do not back down in service to my King, that I will lean on Him, and that He will fill me with His Grace, Strength, Boldness, Spirit, and Power. Pray that God will be able to use me, that I will proclaim His name boldly, as I should. Pray that I will be able to impart to my campers the importance of being a man of God and that I live it out as well.
Again, I am very excited for this summer! I know God will do some great things this summer, and I can't wait to see what He will do. Pray also that we guard against Satan and His schemes, for he will stop at nothing to try and disrupt God's Work. Pray also that I give myself fully to God, and submit to Him, rather than let my self control me. I pray that I will be able to live out what I have written here. (In case you haven't figured it out, it will be a little bit before I will be back on to blog...feel free to check out my older post though if you haven't yet!)
Well, I'm off to battle for my King and His Kingdom!
For Christ's Glory!
Thoughts and musings on following Christ, becoming a Warrior Poet, and living as a Disciple.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
Taking a lesson from the Bereans...
There is a lot of different ideas and doctrines floating around in Christianity today. It can get confusing, and can leave you wondering what is true and what isn't. There seems to be a common myth that anything with the label "Christian" on it is A-Okay, and kosher. We assume that everything considered "Christian" has to be; that it was checked out by some mysterious, wise council or something. However, not everything with the label "Christian" on it contains ideas that are actually "Christian". How do you know what is good and what isn't? I believe we can take some lessons from the Bereans...
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11, NIV) Now that is good stuff! I suggest we take some lessons from them.
Now, I firmly believe that God's Word is absolutely true. Therefore, if we come across any new idea or ideology, we take it and examine it, and compare it to the unchanging truth of the Scripture, looking to see if the "new teaching" is actually true. You'd be surprised how many "Christian" books contain ideas that don't line up with Scripture.
Now, I heard somewhere that the way that people at banks train to identify counterfeit bills is not by studying counterfeits, as you might think. Actually, they examine real bills and study them. They acquaint themselves with the real thing, so as to better see the fake. In Scripture, we are told to guard against false teachings, to watch out for false prophets. We need to discern what is right, and the way to do that is to be like the Bereans. Acquaint yourself with Scripture, study it, get to know it in and out so you can see what is true and what is not.
We need to be more like Bereans, studying the scriptures to see if what we are taking in is really true. His word is truth; don't be led astray.
For Christ's Glory!
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11, NIV) Now that is good stuff! I suggest we take some lessons from them.
Now, I firmly believe that God's Word is absolutely true. Therefore, if we come across any new idea or ideology, we take it and examine it, and compare it to the unchanging truth of the Scripture, looking to see if the "new teaching" is actually true. You'd be surprised how many "Christian" books contain ideas that don't line up with Scripture.
Now, I heard somewhere that the way that people at banks train to identify counterfeit bills is not by studying counterfeits, as you might think. Actually, they examine real bills and study them. They acquaint themselves with the real thing, so as to better see the fake. In Scripture, we are told to guard against false teachings, to watch out for false prophets. We need to discern what is right, and the way to do that is to be like the Bereans. Acquaint yourself with Scripture, study it, get to know it in and out so you can see what is true and what is not.
We need to be more like Bereans, studying the scriptures to see if what we are taking in is really true. His word is truth; don't be led astray.
For Christ's Glory!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Being filled with the Holy Spirit- More thoughts on Acts...
As I spend more time in the book of Acts, I am amazed at the power of the Church and how filled they were with the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit was evident in their lives. It is obvious that they are filled with the Holy Spirit.
However, we don't really see much of that anymore. No one really seems to take seriously the command in Ephesians 5:18 to "be filled with the Spirit" (NIV) We look at the early church and shake our heads, thinking that it isn't realistic....we can't be filled with the Spirit.
I don't know about you, but I desire to see the Spirit fill my life. I read verses like Acts 4:31, "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." (NIV) and it makes me deeply desire to be filled with the Spirit.
Let's take a look at Galatians 5: "16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (NIV)
We need to be filled with the Spirit. I believe that the Spirit desires to fill us like the believers of old. We need more people to be filled with and live by the Spirit. If we live by the Spirit, we won't satisfy our sinful nature. Will you dare to be filled with the Spirit?
For Christ's Glory!
However, we don't really see much of that anymore. No one really seems to take seriously the command in Ephesians 5:18 to "be filled with the Spirit" (NIV) We look at the early church and shake our heads, thinking that it isn't realistic....we can't be filled with the Spirit.
I don't know about you, but I desire to see the Spirit fill my life. I read verses like Acts 4:31, "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly." (NIV) and it makes me deeply desire to be filled with the Spirit.
Let's take a look at Galatians 5: "16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other." (NIV)
We need to be filled with the Spirit. I believe that the Spirit desires to fill us like the believers of old. We need more people to be filled with and live by the Spirit. If we live by the Spirit, we won't satisfy our sinful nature. Will you dare to be filled with the Spirit?
For Christ's Glory!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Contra Mundum
Anyone else notice that the church has been acting more and more like the world around it? Our services are more "seeker friendly", we have more "culturally relevant" messages, our favorite Christian artists dress and music is almost identical to the secular artists, we wear "cool" t-shirts that "share" our faith, while looking like the latest and coolest styles. It seems as though our modern church as we know it is enamored with identifying itself with the world's ways and ideals, and "coolness"
Has anyone else also noticed that the modern Church is basically powerless, ineffective, and dying. I've heard somewhere that close to 80% of the "christian" high schoolers in the church leave the faith after they graduate. This year's graduation of '09 is upon us. How many of them have we lost?
I happen to like a certain Latin phrase which I think sums up what we should be. It's "Contra Mundum", and it basically means "Against the World". That phrase sums up what our church, and us as Christians should be. Are we trying to please men or God?
For most, the idea of going against the world seems ludicrous. "What will happen to our numbers if we aren't culturally relevant?" "If we don't seem like the world, and are as cool as can be, we won't attract people to the church..." However, I believe that we need to go "Contra Mundum" This business of being just like the world to draw people has to stop. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2, NIV)
We have forgotten what Christianity is: A radical call of abandon to self, the taking up of our cross daily, and follow Him, our King! We need to die to self, and follow, against the flow of the world. James 4:4: "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (NIV) "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." (Matthew 12:30, NIV) As I shared earlier in my previous post, (http://becomingawarriorpoet.blogspot.com/2009/05/for-king-and-kingdom.html) We are either on one side or another. We need to be fully over for God.
What's with the focus on being "cool"? Why is our church focusing on being "seeker friendly", being "culturally relevant"? Have we forgotten that Jesus said "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."? (Matthew 10:22, NIV) Or, that "anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38, NIV) Historically, being a follower of Christ means to be "Contra Mundum", and to be hated and persecuted.
We need to have the same attitude as the apostles, who after being beaten, and warned severely not to preach in His name, left "...rejoicing because they were counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." (Acts 5:41, NIV). They knew what it meant what it meant ot be "Contra Mundum". Do we?
For Christ's Glory!
Has anyone else also noticed that the modern Church is basically powerless, ineffective, and dying. I've heard somewhere that close to 80% of the "christian" high schoolers in the church leave the faith after they graduate. This year's graduation of '09 is upon us. How many of them have we lost?
I happen to like a certain Latin phrase which I think sums up what we should be. It's "Contra Mundum", and it basically means "Against the World". That phrase sums up what our church, and us as Christians should be. Are we trying to please men or God?
For most, the idea of going against the world seems ludicrous. "What will happen to our numbers if we aren't culturally relevant?" "If we don't seem like the world, and are as cool as can be, we won't attract people to the church..." However, I believe that we need to go "Contra Mundum" This business of being just like the world to draw people has to stop. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but instead be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2, NIV)
We have forgotten what Christianity is: A radical call of abandon to self, the taking up of our cross daily, and follow Him, our King! We need to die to self, and follow, against the flow of the world. James 4:4: "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (NIV) "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters." (Matthew 12:30, NIV) As I shared earlier in my previous post, (http://becomingawarriorpoet.blogspot.com/2009/05/for-king-and-kingdom.html) We are either on one side or another. We need to be fully over for God.
What's with the focus on being "cool"? Why is our church focusing on being "seeker friendly", being "culturally relevant"? Have we forgotten that Jesus said "All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."? (Matthew 10:22, NIV) Or, that "anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38, NIV) Historically, being a follower of Christ means to be "Contra Mundum", and to be hated and persecuted.
We need to have the same attitude as the apostles, who after being beaten, and warned severely not to preach in His name, left "...rejoicing because they were counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name." (Acts 5:41, NIV). They knew what it meant what it meant ot be "Contra Mundum". Do we?
For Christ's Glory!
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